Seminars and Discussion Group

Seminar on Constitutional Development
(11 June 2004)
Group Discussion Summaries
Orange Group: Dr James Tang

(Translation)

Method for Selecting the Chief Executive

The Number of Members of the Election Committee

• Many participants were of the view that the number of Election Committee members should be increased, but they had different views on how the increase should be made.
  
  

• Participants agreed that any proposal, regardless of the number to be increased, should be supported by clear justifications.

The Composition of the Election Committee

• Some participants proposed to include the directly elected District Council members in the Election Committee, i.e. an increase of 400 members. However, some participants raised objection to this proposal on the ground that when electors chose their District Council members, they did not expect that the District Council members would join the Election Committee. In overall terms, the proposed inclusion of District Council members in the Election Committee had considerable support.
  
  

• Some participants supported the expansion of existing sectors or the introduction of new sectors, such as sectors representing the middle-class, small and medium enterprises, logistics, professionals and semi-professionals, women and youth.

The Number of Members Required for Nominating Candidates

• Participants had different views on this issue. There was a view which suggested nomination by proportion; another view suggested nomination by sectors. There was also a view that each Election Committee member could nominate two candidates. In overall terms, however, participants generally agreed that the most important point was that when nominating candidates, the Election Committee members would genuinely represent their constituents and sectors and perform their duty according to their own conscience.
  
  

• A participant proposed that a prospective candidate should go through a "two-tier" system, i.e. a nomination process followed by a screening process, before he could become a candidate. Participants had diverse views on this proposal.

Others

• Many participants supported the idea that the Chief Executive could have political affiliation.

Method for Forming the Legislative Council

The Number of Seats in the Legislative Council

• Most of the participants who supported an increase in the number of seats in the Legislative Council considered that both the number of seats for functional constituencies and for direct elections should be increased at the same time.
  
  

• A participant said that although an increase in the number of the seats for functional constituencies could satisfy the demand for greater participation, it would adversely impact on the attainment of the long term goal of universal suffrage.

The Number of Seats Returned by Geographical Constituencies

• A participant opined that the size of geographical constituencies should be expanded.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of Legislative Council Functional Constituencies

• Regarding the increase in the number of functional constituency seats, the majority of participants suggested to include small and medium enterprises, such as representatives of industries.
  
  

• A participant suggested to provide a seat for the women sector. Another participant suggested to split up the existing "Sports, performing arts, culture and publication" sector.
  
  

• Despite their diverse views on the method for returning Legislative Council Members representing functional constituencies, participants all hoped to see a rationalization of the election method. Further deliberations would be necessary with respect to the specific measures.

Provisions regarding Nationality of Legislative Council Members

• Some participants considered that a number of seats in the Legislative Council should be given to Hong Kong permanent residents who were not of Chinese nationality or who had the right of abode in foreign countries, since Hong Kong was an international city. However, some participants objected because the arrangement would give rise to concerns about allegiance.

Other Views

Enhancement of Participation

• Participants agreed that the breadth and depth of political participation should be increased and that the number of people taking part in the political system should be increased. However, they had different views on the specifics.

Justification for Change

• Participants agreed that there was a need to change the past arrangements into more reasonable new arrangements, but changes to be made had to be well-analyzed and justified.

Constitutional Development Indicators

• A participant suggested that some mechanism or indicators should be put in place, so that in the process of increasing elements of direct elections or the process of making orderly and gradual progress, we could measure the progress and achievements made.

Breeding of Political Talents

• Many participants agreed that the District Councils were important for grooming political talents and developing political parties.

Participation of the Central People's Government

• A participant opined that consideration should be given to the form of participation of the Central Authorities in Hong Kong's constitutional development.

(Please refer to the video recording for the floor speech.)